Here begins an Account of Things to be done in a _new_ Manner, and what will be found _agreeable_ to Reason. _Imprimis_, Then, _instead of ignorant old Women, we ought to have understanding and diligent Men_. There is nothing New in this, nor very _Unreasonable_; but as the Doctor has enhansed the whole Knowledge of Physick in his own Person, and made _old Women_ of his _Brethren_, I hope he will allow these _Officers_ of _Health_ to consist of discarded Physicians. _Secondly, When the sick Families are gone_ (whether?) _all the Goods of the Houses, in which they were, should be burnt; nay, the Houses themselves, if that can conveniently be done._ A very good Advice, and, I hope, the City of _London_ will erect another _Monument_ for the Doctor, after they have burned their City, upon so _reasonable_ Advice. But as this Advice has been found hurtful in Experience, so neither is it _New_, because it has been practised Two Hundred Years ago; as I lately observed. He has now the late Fire of _London_ in view, and recommends another general Conflagration of our City, from the great Good, he fancies, accrued thereby: But the Reason he brings is admirable. _For nothing approaches so near to the first Original of Contagion, as Air pent up, loaded with Damps._ This is the very Reason, why _Hippocrates_, and all other Physicians after him, have advised making Fires for preventing the Plague; neither spared they any _Expence_ in _Scents_, _sweet_ and _aromatick Woods_; and even they put _sacred_ Things to that very Use. Yet, according to Custom, the Doctor [18]contradicts himself, on this Article, at the small distance of four Pages; where Fires again are condemned as pernicious. The Reason alledged for this later Experiment is absolutely false; for Dr. _Hodges_ assures us, that the Weather was not Hot in that Summer. But, I believe, the true Reason of the Contradiction is, that the Doctor will, at any Time, venture being found in a Contradiction, three Doors off, as well as four Pages off, to save his Bacon, or for a merry Conceit. But there is, _even in this_, nothing New, for there was one _Raymundus_, who is noted for this Singularity by other Authors, whose Words our Doctor seems to translate. _Pestilentes Febres_, says _Raymundus_, _Ardentes sunt, & idcirco ab aere fervido, & calente augentur_. I must beg leave to crowd in another Conclusion, because I follow the Doctor; that as Fires are thus hurtful, so, and for that Reason, is the _firing_ of Guns. The Word _Fire_ is common in both Expressions, but it was never the _Heat_ of great Guns, but their _Noise_ that was recommended, and that is a sort of _Wind_, so much recommended formerly, by Dr. _Mead_; _but what some have too rashly advised. Mira vis verbis._ [Footnote 18: Page 45.]